Panthera

Not mine... Thanks to Kei for all her help

Despite his calm appearance, Harry was anything but calm. Inside, he was one huge mass of seething emotions all brought on by one Severus Snape. He knew his Professor wouldn't push the issue about his family; the look of astonishment on the man's face last night when Harry's control had slipped once again made sure of that. But he also knew that he wouldn't let it go either, especially after what he had just admitted to.

Figuring that he had too much excess energy, and that he didn't want to risk his emotional state in a duel just yet, Harry decided to explore his rooms once he had unpacked. After all, if what Snape said was true, then these rooms were his for the rest of his life and maybe beyond. With a smirk, he entered the rooms that were his alone, already planning what he wanted to do.

~~hp~~

Severus watched as the young man left his... no their... study, showing nothing but calm control even though he knew that the teen’s emotions were up in the air. Honestly though, if this had been any other teen, Severus would have been storming after them, demanding to know what kind of argument had occurred between Harry and his relatives to have brought on that outrageous statement. Two things stopped him: one, everything he learned the night before, as well as Harry’s loss of control; and two, he had seen the look in the young man's eyes.

A combination of despair and grief.

Rather than chase after the boy, he decided that the best thing he could do at the moment was to do nothing. After all, there was no sense giving the boy a chance to allow his temper and therefore the control on his magic to slip once more and do more then just shake a few of the things within his rooms. Instead, he gathered the essays that needed to be marked over the break and made himself comfortable at his desk.

A few hours later, the steady beat of controlled magic resonating in his bones disturbed his application of red ink to bad essays, and it took him a few minutes to figure out the source. Raising his head, he allowed it to wash over him, and, a moment later he figured it out. Intrigued, he left his marking halfway through a rather nasty comment on a Fouth year Hufflepuffs essay, and went in search of the source, intent on finding out what the foolish boy he was now sharing living space was doing.

It really didn't take long for him to track down the boy in question, he just followed the pull of magic that vibrated in the air until it led him to a partially open door. Nudging the door open until he could see the room clearly, he found himself having to forcefully hold back gasp of surprise. The sight of the thunderstorm Potter’s magic had created when he lost control his magic the night before had been an awesome sight to see, but that was nothing compared to this. This was a controlled act of magic that levitated the teen about four feet in the air as he concentrated on something only he could see. The boy’s fog-like aura washed clearly through the room and he could still see signs of the thunderstorm from the night before but one that only threatened from somewhere distant. Severus stood there watching from the open doorway, being careful not to make any noises or sudden movements, not sure what that room full of magic would do if the teen was startled at this point. He was so focused on trying to figure out just by the different colors that flashed within the room what was going on that he failed to see Harry turn to face him until a soft voice startled him from his observations.

“May I help you Professor?”

Shaking himself firmly to bring himself back to reality, Snape looked at the young man who was still somehow floating in midair, and despite the fact he needed to be firm, the question came out more of a whisper. “What are you doing Mr. Potter?”

Smiling faintly, Harry allowed himself to drift down far enough that he could unfold his legs and stand. “I'm trying to figure out if that device I mentioned last night could be found by powerful magic. Unfortunately, I don't think that this test will work,” he said, voice still soft.

“And why not?”

Pulling his magic back into himself, the air around the two of them slowly cleared, until the only thing that could be felt was the very normal amount of magic that one usually sensed from a wizard. “I think my own magic is interfering. Since I made it, it only stands to reason that it would blend in with my own magic as I tried to find it.”

Feeling much more at ease when Harry pulled his own magic, Snape raised an eyebrow, a silent inquiry as to see if he was allowed to enter the room. At Harry’s nod he entered and conjured a chair and summoned tea for the two of them. “That could very well be the case. May I ask just what it is you are looking for?”

“Hedwig. She's here but I'm not exactly sure where.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes Sir.”

Focusing his magic Snape started searching the room with his own senses, but came up empty. “I don't feel anything else in this room but the two of us. Are you positive that she is still in the room?” His answer other, than an annoyed look from the teen in front of him, came in the form of the missing owl landing on his shoulder and the feel of her preening his hair. Giving a startled oath, Snape glared at the snickering Harry and turned his glare on the invisible bird. “Please remove yourself from my shoulder,” he hissed.

With a silent but amused hoot, Hedwig launched herself from the Potions Master’s shoulder and glided over to her own human and waited patiently for the device to be removed from her leg. Preening Harry’s hair in thanks, she launched herself once more and left the room for the owl hole that led to the outside of the castle. Harry watched her leave and gave his professor a smug grin. “I'm going to assume that it works as it is. I'll need to test it on someone else to be sure, and see if I can add a few more spells to it, but it looks like I can take your Panthera after all.”

Holding out his hand, Snape requested to see what Harry was fiddling with in his hand. Examining the ring, for that was indeed what the device was, Severus found himself impressed with the rather simple design. “What spells are on here already and what else did you want to add?” he asked absently, falling into research mode.

Harry settled down further into his own chair and hid a small chuckle of amusement. “I have a ‘Notice-me-not’, invisibility, silencing, and tracking charm on it so far. I'll need to add something that will allow someone who already knows about the animal hiding to see it, and one that will give the ring itself a return-to-owner spell, as well as an emergency portkey. Once I have all that figured out, I’m going to have to figure out if the same spells could be transferred to something like a collar. The ring is nice and all, but it's not something that is practical for an oversized cat.”

“Very true.” Drawing his wand, Severus started to run his own detection spells on the ring and found that only when he went on to darker spells that he could get anything resembling magic on the ring. “I would suggest adding a few protections to hide it from dark magic as well,” he said absently, before casting a Portus spell on the ring itself. “Try this; it should if it works take you to the other side of this room. Just tap it three times with your wand.”

Harry slipped the ring on and felt an odd sensation go down his spine as he faded from view. Pulling out his wand, he tapped the ring three times and felt the odd jerking sensation that told him that the portkey worked and seconds later found himself on the opposite side of the room. Smiling at this success, he wondered around the room waiting for his professor to become irritated enough to call out for him. He wasn't surprised when it took less then five minutes for it to happen.

“Mr. Potter! Did it work?” Snape growled out.

Moving to a spot directly behind the Dark Wizard Harry grinned and allowed his playful Slytherin side come out to play just a little. Bending over slightly to speak directly in the other man's ear, he allowed his voice to drop a fraction. “Of course it did Professor, were there any doubts?” And quickly stepped back out of the other man’s way when he jumped about a foot in the air.

One of the things Severus knew he was good at was hiding how he was feeling. He didn't startle easy, or showed what he was feeling but this Brat of a Gryffindor had startled him into showing how he was feeling ever since he arrived. He should have expected something considering who his father was, but instead he sat there waiting. When the boy finally made himself known from directly behind him, Severus could not stop his reaction. Jumping up from his chair he turned quickly on his heel and hand his wand pointed directly at were the boy had been. “Show yourself, Mr. Potter!” he snarled.

Harry removed the ring and made sure that his face was blank from the amusement he was feeling and removed the ring. “I'm sorry sir,” he said softly, being careful to keep his hands empty and in the open.

Calming down by degrees, Severus continued to glare at the teen. “I suggest, Mr. Potter, that you find something to occupy yourself with for the next few hours,” he hissed, not amused in the least.

Harry glanced up into his professor’s dark eyes and took a quick step back, his amusement dying. For the first time since he had invaded the man's privacy the night before, he actually felt nervous. “Of course, Sir,” he whispered and retreated to the door, making sure that he never turned his back, and keeping his eyes locked on the black glittering orbs, much like he would do any other enraged snake, and using a slight wisp of magic, closed the door. He was barely two steps away from the door when he heard Snape’s tea mug shatter against it, the force of impact causing the door to shudder.

Quickly going through to the study, Harry grabbed his research material and made a beeline for his own door, resetting all the wards as he went to ensure that nothing in either their combined or individual rooms would be broken beyond repair. Considering his options on where he could go for a few hours before dinner without being hunted down by an irate professor, Harry decided that he might as well go to the Library with the hope that he could complete the next stage of his research to help protect the Panthera cub, if, of course, Snape still decided to let him help.

~~hp~~

Harry looked up from the many books in front of him hours later to a small hand gently touching his shoulder. “Mr. Harry Potter Sir needs to go to Dinner. Mr. Harry Potter Sir has already missed lunch,” Winky said softly, careful not to startle the young wizard.

Glancing up at the clock, Harry groaned softly and stretched, the vertebrae in his back popping as they were released from being in the same position for too long. “Thank you Winky. I'll just clean this up and head over to the Great Hall.”

“Winky will do it for you. Master Harry Potter needs to eat.” Winky stated, her eyes making it clear that she would not take no for an answer.

Grinning slightly he stood and gave the small house elf a slight bow. “My most sincere thanks,” he whispered. Leaving the library without looking back, knowing that Winky would have tears in her eyes. He quickly worked his way to the Great Hall, unsure on exactly how many people would be there, considering that he never checked the sign up forms for the students to stay over the holidays.

Entering the Great Hall, he wasn't too surprised to see only one round table had been set up for everyone to sit at. He was surprised to see, when he was close enough to do so, that only one extra place set up. Raising an eyebrow to the headmaster in silent query, he took the empty spot next to Snape and cringed slightly at the Death Glare he received from the other man.

Albus looked between the youngest two people at the table and held back a chuckle; it looked like something had happened after he had left the room this morning, leaving Severus more then displeased with his student. “Yes, my boy, you are the only student who is remaining for this holiday,” he said in answer to the silent question. “I only ask that you join us for one meal a day,” he continued.

“Two so I can make sure you are safe, as you are no longer in the tower,” Professor McGonagall stated.

Harry who had nodded in agreement with the terms set out by the headmaster, snapped his head up and around towards his Head of House. “What?”

“You heard me, young man. You have a habit of not eating without the other two around to remind you. Combine that with the fact that you are always managing to get yourself into trouble—I want to see you for two meals a day.” Mcgonagall demanded. “Did you even eat today, before I asked Winky to retrieve you from whatever hole you had found?”

“Yes Ma'am, I had breakfast.”

“I'm sorry, Mr. Potter, but I'm going to need more than your word on this.”

Harry looked at his Head of House in shock, not sure exactly what had happened. Shaking his head in confusion, he just went over what he had been ordered to do, and to be called a liar over something like food! A quick glance around the table found all of the other Professors watching, and a number of them agreeing with the order. Feeling himself flush with shame for a moment, he also started to burn with fury.

Severus had been watching and listening as well. He agreed with the Headmaster's idea to keep an eye on the teen, and was honestly amazed that Harry had given in automatically. With that agreement, he also felt the last of his anger towards the teen melt away. Severus only kept half his attention on what Minerva was saying; he had heard all this before, and instead watched to see what Harry thought of it all. His head snapped up when he heard her ask Harry if he had eaten today and then basically say that she didn't believe him. Before he or the headmaster could verify that the young man in question had eaten at least one meal already, he saw out of the corner of his eye Harry go red in embarrassment, followed quickly by going white in fury.

Albus also saw the warning signs of resentment and embarrassment followed by pure fury. He knew that Harry ate more often then the other Professors saw, especially since he as Headmaster had asked both Dobby and Winky to make sure that he ate at least two meals a day with snacks in between. It has been many times that Albus watched the young man leave a classroom only to open his bag and pull out some fruit or vegetable sticks that had been placed there. Standing, he made to break eye contact between Harry and his Deputy, only to feel the table start to shake. He was too late.

Taking deep breaths and closing his eyes, Harry enforced an aura of calm before he allowed himself to answer; he really needed to release some of the magic he could feel bubbling through him. One last deep breath and he opened his eyes and faced his Professor. “I must not tell lies.” His voice came out soft, but still deadly. “It was you who told me the ultimate outcome of that one sentence, after you managed to drag out what was wrong with me, and then dragged me up to see Madam Pomfrey, but yet here you sit telling me that my word is not good enough for you.” Feeling the table start to shake again, Harry closed his eyes once more, and almost jumped when he felt something brush against his leg. Slitting his eyes open slightly and looking down when he felt it again, he saw Snape’s hand attempt to settle on his leg. Trying to figure out why his professor wanted to touch him brought another measure of calm, along with the memory of Snape using touch along with his voice to help calm him down before. Moving his leg slightly enough towards Snape so no one else could see, Harry allowed the Potions Master to make physical contact, feeling more of his anger drawing away with it.

Looking back up he continued, “I was under the impression that it was you who had informed two of the house elves to keep an eye on me and what I was eating, but taking your attitude just now, I’m going to assume that it was the headmaster and Madam Pomfrey instead. Trust me when I say that Winky is stubborn enough to get a wall to eat if she put her mind to it.” Standing up and pushing in his chair, Harry looked her right in the eye before sliding his gaze around the table to the others sitting there. “I thank you for your trust in me Professors, it really goes a long way to make sure that I can trust you.”

No one said a word as Harry left the Great Hall.